JAP                                                         

                                                                                           Translated by Tarlochan Singh Khalsa,Ph.D.

Introduction

It gives me tremendous pleasure and satisfaction to present this translation to lovers searching for truth and reality.  Gurbani is a lighthouse, a constitution, a code of conduct, and a way of life for a sikh to follow.  Gurbani is a never-ending continuous subject of conviction, and meditation leading to contemplation.

 A translation of any part of Siri Guru Granth Sahib means interpreting revelation of word guru into other languages.  A variation in the interpretation of Gurbani may be attributed to the way a Sikh comprehends its meaning. The most important aspect in translation is how close is the meaning of the translation.  Because finding equivalent words in English are difficult, it is an act of responsibility.

 In the rapid technological advancement, it is a great challenge to meet the spiritual needs of Sikh English readers, especially children, youth and others interested in Sikhism, by providing a good piece of translation which can capture the spirit of Gurbani.

 Keeping sight of these objectives, this effort is made to translate into English the most popular morning recitation-the Gurbani of jap, by a sikh .

 Chapter 1 deals with interpretation of Jap and notes are given at the end of the chapter, whereas, literal translation and Roman script of Jap is presented in Chapter 2.  To facilitate daily recitation of Jap in Gurmukhi script for the devotees is given in Chapter 3. Guru Naanak's brief account is portrayed in Appendix - 1.

            Pronunciation of Gurbani is also an important and integral part of recitation and comprehension. This is taken care of by offering Roman Punjabi along with the Gurmukhi script. An easy guide to pronunciation in Roman, to help the reader to vocalize the Gurmukhee text, is given in Appendix – 2. Nevertheless, more efforts are needed to standardize the pronunciation keys to capture correct diction.

 Although, I have tried to the my best of my abilities and by consultating with other Gursikhs, to provide an excellent translation, however, due to my limitations and the vastness of the subject, it may still be somewhat deficient and lack other technicalities to the satisfaction and expectations of the readers. Moreover, researching and translation in Gurbaanhee has to be perceived a continuous process.

 I will be looking forward to the suggestions from the spiritual and learned readers on this absorbing spiritual subject, and to accommodate them with an open mind in the next edition. Thank you.

 

FederalWay,                                                                                                   Tarlochan Singh Khalsa, Ph.D.

July 27, 1998